No abstract

The rate of the decarboxylation of trichloroacetic acid (abbreviated as TCAH) in the presence of β-cyclodextrin(βCD) in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide has been followed by the determination of the remaining TCAH. The rate equation was given by Rate=(k_1T+k_1TCC_βCD)C_TCAH^1/2+(k_2T-k_2TCC_βCD)C_TCAH. A probable bimolecular decarboxylation mechanism which involves the unionized molecule of TCAH rather than the anion was proposed and discussed.